Meet Your King of the Point for April

Your King of the Point for April is Michael Gardner. You all know him as Mr. Gymnasty and now King Michael. Michael led The Double Under Dogs in the Open with the same friendly and competitive spirit he brings to every class. We are all in awe of his commitment to training smart. Thank you for choosing us as your gym. Congratulations Michael! Get ready for a fun gymnastic workout!

What brought you to East Boston?

I moved to East Boston about three years ago after living in DC for five years. I moved in with my good friend, which just so happened to be across the street from Sandy and Javy!

What drew you to CrossFit?

My two older sisters had been doing Crossfit for years and tried to get me to start for a long time. We all did gymnastics growing up, so they knew I would love it. I eventually took their word for it and gave it a shot. I only wish I had started sooner!

What was your expectation on your first day at CJP? How has your perception changed since that day?

I was cautiously optimistic on my first day at CJP because I had previously been to two different boxes where I didn’t have the best experiences. I wanted to give CrossFit another shot, and I’m glad I did. CJP was the right cultural fit for me and that made all the difference.

What keeps you coming back to CJP?

The coaches and the community! I love the culture of positivity and encouragement of all athletes. There’s also a healthy amount of competition, which gives me the extra push I need sometimes.

What are some of the changes you have experienced in your physical appearance, strength and/or body composition. How have you used this outside of the gym?

I feel stronger in all aspects of my life. I’ve gained muscle, toned up, and become more well-rounded in my fitness.

Biggest improvements/struggles with CrossFit?

My biggest improvement was getting a strict ring muscle up! Full disclosure, I could do one when I was about 12, but that was a long time ago and it took a lot of work to get it back! My biggest challenges have been on the barbell since I don’t have much background there. But I’m getting better every day and having fun with it.

If you could create your own WOD, what movements would you use? Handstand push ups, bar muscle ups… and maybe some clean and jerks?

Meat head nickname (with explanation)? No meat head nicknames here, but I could get used to King Michael…

If you were to encourage someone on the fence of joining the CJP community, what would you say?

CJP is a great place to start, so give it a shot! If you’re on the fence, my advice is stick with it for a few months before making up your mind. You’ll be surprised to see how much progress you can make in a short amount of time. Then you’ll be hooked. can make in a short amount of time. Then you’ll be hooked.